News of the World

— Sometimes a slow progression is exactly the way a story should unfold, and this is a great example. Tom Hanks, a civil war veteran who travels from town to town reading the world news to anyone who’s interested, finds a young girl on her own who has been orphaned, then taken in and orphaned again, this time by a Kiowa family who was raising her as their own. He decides to return her to the only remaining blood relatives she has. It’s a rough journey across the Texas landscape, made more difficult by barriers of language and trust but, slowly, a bond of sorts is formed as they stop in one town or another to read the news, or experience one hardship or another on the road. It’s beautifully filmed, well-acted, nicely detailed, and thoughtfully edited. There’s not much narration but Hanks fills the void. I liked the film, mostly for it’s look and feel and the caliber of acting, and would recommend it. [HBO Max streaming.]

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[2021. 118 min. Directed by Paul Greengrass. Starring Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/news-of-the-world-movie-review-2020